Save Time with Exposing the ELCA Website.Featured with Top Blogs, Left Margin

ELCA Bishops

When I began this blog, ELCA had enough cash to put out press releases fairly often. Since then, the need to find more information about this catastrophe has diminished - and so has the denomination's cash for everything, including seminaries.

Exposing the ELCA is a great time-saver for those who want to discover the latest about this gathering of the worst ideas, the most incompetent leaders, and the most bizarre behavior.

The website is carefully researched and sensible.

I left the ELCA before the merger, but found the LCMS-WELS-ELS too eager to mock the radicals while inviting them for lectures, meetings, evangelism, and joint worship.

Lo, the Demons Merge
I have attended various Church Growth gatherings, listening carefully to their messages - which are never sermons. WELS pastors remember P-boy, who loved to talk about his nose and other body parts, everything about himself.

I went to a big gathering of cell groups in Columbus, where the speaker gave a one-hour talk, never mentioning God until the 45 minute mark. (I kept track.) He talked about himself, and the audience cooed and giggled.

At the ELCA, then LCMC Church of Joy, the senior pastor (Fuller D.Min.) spoke about his musical ability, his Hawaiian shirt, then transitioned to his "birthday suit." The audience was with him for his non-sermon.

And now we have ELCA's Nadia, exquisitely boring, because she is another Growther. All her talks are about Nadia. Her radical fans want everyone to cry about the United Methodists remaining traditional, as if their 2% should rule over the 98% forever. Yes, that is roughly the gay population - 2%. But that is far beyond Nadia's scope, since she sticks to what she knows - or pretends to know - Nadia.

I wonder - given the weeping and gnashing of sensitive, triggered teeth about their issues only - how many people are attracted to the ELCA seminaries, ELCA missions, and ELCA publications? The answers seem to be - precious few.

This should be a cautionary tale. So many are trained by Fuller Seminary and even more ridiculous Willow Creek, that this sappy me-talk has taken over and replaced the sermon with Mirror, Mirror, On the Way, Who's the Most Narcissistic of All? 

Why Are the Swedish and Norwegian Lutheran Colleges So Highly Rated in America?

 Synodical Conference colleges have been used to keep the family secure and the alcoholics working. Hazing at Northwestern College meant abusing The Sprinter. Your pastor will explain, or more likely, change the subject.

 https://www.walkermn.com/news/religion/the-scandinavian-heritage-the-scandinavian-colleges-in-america/article_6ae5e160-3c28-11e9-a72f-032440a0df6a.html

I did not want to pay for the article, but the lead was intriguing, especially because it quotes a famous leader from the LCA side of Lutherdom - George H. Gerberding - see the Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry.

George H. Gerberding - see the Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry.

DO NOT PANIC - Written in Large, Friendly Letters. How To Start Reading Greek,

ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΡΚΟΝ 1 1550 Stephanus New Testament (TR1550)

1 αρχη του ευαγγελιου ιησου χριστου, υιου του θεου

2 ως γεγραπται εν τοις προφηταις ιδου εγω αποστελλω τον αγγελον μου προ προσωπου σου ος κατασκευασει την οδον σου εμπροσθεν σου

3 φωνη βοωντος εν τη ερημω ετοιμασατε την οδον κυριου ευθειας ποιειτε τας τριβους αυτου

4 εγενετο ιωαννης βαπτιζων εν τη ερημω και κηρυσσων βαπτισμα μετανοιας εις αφεσιν αμαρτιων

A. Start by learning the alphabet and reading the text out loud. We will read it out loud in class too.

B. Look for words you know or words based on the Greek. Mark 1:1 - I see archaeology - the beginning of history; Good News, also good and angel; Jesus Christ; theology.

Basic translating means - Translate the words you know and guess the rest. In simple passages we already know the other words - or at least we think we do. This approach gives us a sense for the Greek rather than that slow style of 

1. What does this word mean?
2. How do I parse it?
3. What is the grammar rule?

The slow style means that a few learn Greek or Latin or German in spite of the teacher. The fast style or immersion is used for quick, effective ability in the new language. We don't have the luxury of total immersion, but we can repeat how we first learned our language.

Children learn language by hearing it and learning what it means in its context. "No" to a small child means "Let's start debating."

PS - "DO NOT PANIC - Written in Large, Friendly Letters." That is the beginning of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, a great satire novel.

The article (the) tells us the case and number of the word it is with, making Greek especially easy.

WELS Bailing Out with Parochial School "Evangelism" (Ha) and Voucher Subsidies (Haha!)

Gender fluidity follows truth fluidity.

Good morning Pastor Jackson,

    The WELS Titanic may be sinking but the band plays on. Most members probably believe that it is business as usual in the WELS but decreasing membership equals decreasing offerings. You have to wonder if the leaders are using fuzzy math like poor economists. Back in the mid 80's when our child began attending a WELS elementary school, about 60% of the congregational budget went to the school. The members were given priority over non-member families for the enrollment of their children. There was no tuition for members' children. There was a book rental fee of $125 annually per student and a few other minor expenses. The school existed primarily to serve the members. 

I understand that coincidence does not produce causation. But I also realize that many actions can produce unintended consequences. The paradigm shift occurred when the talk started about the school being a mission arm of the congregation. The LES was often no more than a one room schoolhouse, especially in rural settings like Trinity.

"Everyone is jealous of our outstanding educational program."

Then the school choice/voucher program was set up in Wisconsin. It was designed to give parents an alternative to failing public schools. In 2009, I left one WELS parish because of the manner in which they were fleecing their members to get their multi-million dollar expansion. Shortly thereafter, that church and Shoreland Lutheran High School became participants in the voucher program. Before all of this, the church's enrollment was typically between 100 to 125 students, mostly from member families. Presently, the church has about 200 students with well over half coming from the school choice program. This translates as non-member enrollees. 

In the mid 90's when our oldest began at the high school, the tuition was about $2500 per year per student. Additional support came in from the 20 congregations in the federation. The area Roman Catholic high schools had a price tag that was double that amount. Now, the cost is approaching $7000 annually per student at Shoreland. 

The enrollment is close to the same number with over half of the Shoreland students being school choice participants. If a parochial school wants to participate in the choice program, they must allow student to opt out of religious instruction if they want to. What about the Lutheran school being a "mission arm" of the congregation? What happened to that idea?

Wisconsin's new governor, Democrat Tony Evers has issued several executive orders recently. This is one of them:

The Latest: Opposition to Evers' plan for voucher schools

***

GJ - My expert in this field saw it coming decades ago. Once WELS coveted gubmint funds, the path to perdition was paved with a thick layer of Fool's Gold.

SP John Brenner would not take a dime from the gubmint, not even for the milk program. 

Where is WELS now? Martin Luther College is training dumb kids in how to run Diaper Changing "Christian" Academies. No, really. They have a building just for that.

The Laity Have Seen the Light - The More the OJ Salesmen Push Their Errors, The More Obvious the Toxin Is

Pastor Greg, I was struck with how disjointed, unconnected and mis-applied the common passages used to “prove” UOJ are and how easily laypeople either just believe something because their Pastor tells them or because their church body produced a paper or a statement.  Contrast that with how harmonious Scripture is and how little “proving” needs to be done for Justification by Faith when you let the Word of God speak for itself……

Justification of the World – try to find God actively and forensically declaring the world righteous in here

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  John 1:29 KJV

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.  John 19:30

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  Romans 5:18 KJV

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.  1 Timothy 2:6 KJV

Faith Counted as Righteousness – Harmonious

And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.  Genesis 15:6 KJV

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Romans 4:3 KJV

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.  Romans 4:5 KJV

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.  Galatians 3:6 KJV

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  James 2:23 KJV

Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.  And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.  Psalm 106:30-31 KJV

The Just Live by Faith - Harmonious

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.  Habakkuk 2:4 KJV

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  Romans 1:17 KJV

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  Galatians 3:11 KJV

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  Hebrews 10:38 KJV

Righteousness of Faith - Harmonious

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:  Romans 3:22 KJV

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:  Romans 4:11 KJV

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.  Romans 4:13 KJV

What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.  Romans 9:30 KJV

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  Galatians 5:5 KJV

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  Philippians 3:9 KJV

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.  Hebrews 11:7 KJV

The Gospel of Mark in Greek - Starts Ash Wednesday - Continues in MidWeek Lenten Services. Aimed at Beginners

Following the midweek services, which are recorded, we will study St. Mark's Gospel in Greek. I will simply move from the final hymn to the lesson.

I will save each video link in the Facebook page for Greek, but people can also look them up by date. We will continue when midweek services are over.

This set is aimed at beginners, so we will start slowly.

1. NT Greek is easy! It only needs time for the brain switch-over.
2. Start with the alphabet, then reading out loud.
3. Grammar is simple. I downplay grammar, emphasize time on the Greek text alone.
4. Do not write in the English words above or in the text.
5. Do not use an interlinear text (Greek-English).
6. Do not leave your KJV Bible open, but you may use it rarely for emergencies.
7. Paine covers the basic grammar issues, using John's Gospel. Get a used copy here - about $15 - 25. Or from Alibris - as little as $7 plus shipping. (Use the low to high price filter.)

Bethany New Testament Greek Lessons on Facebook



New Testament Greek is fun, easy, and gives us an enormous vocabulary in medicine and science. Our entire Western civilization is based upon the Golden Age in Greece (especially Athens) - and Alexander the Great spread this through conquest.

Greek was the universal language of commerce and culture at the time of Christ. Any decent Roman citizen knew Greek. Later, St. Augustine wrote in Latin but often quoted in Greek.

The Founders of America knew Latin and Greek.

"Rome had the drains, but the Greeks had the brains."

 The Parthenon in Athens

Caution! This Luther Quotation Will Topple All Objective Justification Salesmen and Church Growth Foxes

[22]  Also St. Paul in Rom. 12:7 says: "Whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith." That is, all doctrines must harmonize and agree with faith, so that nothing be taught but faith. He who has not this faith cannot judge of any doctrine correctly, for here the carnal minded who are smart and worldly wise are incompetent, only pious spiritual hearts can do that...

 

[25]  Therefore learn well to be on your guard, and thoroughly examine all doctrines, whether they rightly teach, and apply this chief and fundamental doctrine, that is, whether they preach Christ correctly and purely. For you will certainly find among all factions and sects, that they always either omit this article entirely, or bring something with it to which they lead the people as though that were particularly necessary to salvation.

 

From Luther's Church Postil, "Eighth Sunday After Trinity. Third Sermon: Matt. 7:15-23. Concerning False Teachers"

Upcoming Books in Order - Calvin, Luther, and the Ichabod Lutheran Dictionary

AKA Martin Chemnitz, aka the Second Luther, aka the Senior Editor of the Book of Concord. 

First

Calvin Ruined the Protestant Faith is almost done. The book will be in larger print, full-color, also in Kindle, and later a free PDF. The book includes Zwingli's influence, but try to fit that into a book title.

The author's price will be about $5, so it will be attractive as a book for adult classes.

I am looking into making all my books free PDFs in their most edited form, the level of near perfection sent off to the printers.

Second

We have Luther's House Postils ready for printing next - very close to it. These are sermons for the household, which Ludwig Fuerbringer valued for their advice about marriage, children, and other household matters. There are three volumes, illustrated by Norma A. Boeckler, and to be in color, black and white, and Kindle. Gems will be published a little later (not started yet).

Third

The Ichabod Lutheran Dictionary is being worked on - definitions, trivia, a little fun here and there.

Fourth

Justification by Faith - Exegesis. So many ignorant louts are braying and hee-hawing about their Objective Justification that someone needs to provide the exegesis for Justification by Faith, the Chief Article of Christianity. 

The plan is to do this in English and Greek, with English being dominant. Exegesis simply means - to declare, which means explaining what the text actually says. 

In John 1 - the Logos is the exegesis - He declares the true nature of the Father. Jesus is the exegesis, so we should not be shy declaring the text as revealed - rather than theses from Halle Pietists and Fuller alumni.

Public Domain Notice for All My Books

To help distribute more Gospel material freely, I have made all my books public domain, which means no permission is needed to reprint, edit, or translate my publications, past or future included. No fees are necessary or expected. Giving credit for using the original is sufficient – name, author, and date.

Do Dogs Change Behavior as They Grow Older? Yes, Sassy Is Definitely More Mischievous

 Sassy's missing leg, amputated because of a horse kicking her, is the result of neglect from long ago. We adopted her because we could see her personality on the website featuring rescues.

Someone wrote a story about dogs changing their personalities as they grow older. Yes, they lose their puppiness, but Sassy seems to have more of those appealing qualities than ever before.

For example, she enjoys her little pranks. I was watching the news when she decided to put her claw on my stomach. She communicates with her paws a lot. This time she slowly dragged her claw on my skin. I yelped and she laughed. She does not just grin, but really laughs at the fun. My wife Chris said, "And you laughed." Yes, of course, but I am blamed for encouraging her. That was a one-time trick.

 Sassy tolerates her Voyager but loves the Town Car limo.

She returned to getting my attention with strange noises. I look up and wonder if something is malfunctioning. I looked up twice before I noticed it was the claw plucking at the metal shelf.

Some other claw tricks are:

1. Batting my leg lightly, which calls for something I should do.
2. Making the touch a little stronger each time.
3. Dragging her claw across my kneecap with some force.
4. Triple-dragging her claw, looking fiercely at me.
5. I often ignore that at first and say, "Watch Sassy." I know - it is my fault for encouraging her.

Once she has established friendship with someone on the block, she sits down on the sidewalk, in their way, until they pet her and talk to her about how sweet she is. I said to one, "You made her day." She said, "She made my day." If they are brother and sister, both have to pet her and compliment her.

One couple demands "love" from Sassy before we go. They cup a hand and Sassy pushes her soft muzzle into it, licking the hand. At that point she backs away and barks sharply. "Do you have something to do?" Bark! Bark! "Do you have an appointment?" Bark! Bark! Bark!!

Sassy is friends with a lot of dogs who bark at her and play tag a bit through the fence. She loves to get three pit bulls barking at her, so she only needs to be nearby to hear them on alert. She loves to walk "innocently" near their wooden fence to start a ruckus. She watches me because I discourage it. That is just as much fun for her as seeing her favorite huskies and shepherds. She has overdone this at times, so she acts like it is just another stroll in someone's  front yard.

Sassy walked into view to be in this photo. Our granddaughter went over backwards and held the pose, laughing and unhurt. Sassy upstaging her made it even funnier.

Experts on What Is NOT Lutheran Preaching. Don't Fail To Miss These Two Speakers on Universalism in Preaching - Justification without Faith - UOJ

 What happened to Dr. Walter A. Maier (far more qualified that these politicians) and Justification by Faith?

Why do the "conservative" Lutherans continue to yank us around with their Objective Justification and Church Growth?

Wayne Mueller said at the WELS youth conference that evangelism was easy because we could "just say - you are already forgiven."

Rolfie One-Note is so blind to Justification by Faith that he edited his father's last book, Justification and Rome, and never saw Objective Justification repudiated in it. Now that I have pointed it out about 20 times, he omits that from his temple talks. Rolfie One-Note objects to my habit of quoting his father against his one and only dogma.

 This settles the issue, but the Preus Clan will not admit it.

 Wayne is very good at covering his points with fog, but he seems to be saying that the Confessions welcome a change in Biblical doctrine. He was so slippery in talks that his peers made him write down in advance what he was going to present. WELS is against the Book of Concord. As one member of their leadership said, "The Confessions are boring and irrelevant." A 1987 graduate said, "Zwingli was right about the Lord's Supper - Luther was wrong."

Late Last Night - The Scholars Gave Me Some Homework - Romans 16:17

 Examine and avoid. Examine and avoid. Examine and avoid.

 The official teachings of the LCMS are: 1) Fellowship with ELCA through Mark and Avoid Jeske, Thrivent; 2) Justification without Faith; 3) Church Growth via the Fuller Seminary Cloaca Maxima; 4) Evolution, 5) Abortion - an adiaphoron.

Romans 16

17 παρακαλω δε υμας αδελφοι, σκοπειν τους τας διχοστασιας και τα σκανδαλα (παρα την διδαχην ην υμεις εμαθετε) ποιουντας, και εκκλινατε απ αυτων

18 οι γαρ τοιουτοι τω κυριω ημων ιησου χριστω ου δουλευουσιν, αλλα τη εαυτων κοιλια - και δια της χρηστολογιας και ευλογιας εξαπατωσιν τας καρδιας των ακακων

KJV

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Verse 17

There are two significant parts to this verse, with word order used to emphasize the point.

I beg you, brothers. 

(This is not just a request.)

Examine (or look at) those making divisions and deathtriggers 

(skandala are not just offenses; the term comes from deadly triggers in traps).

Against the doctrine you learned, and

Lean away from them (or) - avoid them.

The two parts --

The Synodical Conference types, especially the toxic Cult of Legalistic Conmen (CLC sic) love to repeat "Mark and avoid" until the phrase becomes a monotone chant.

Slogans weaken the Scriptures (five Solas!) and do not help or edify by themselves.

Marking sounds like something we do with a felt pen, so it misses the mark today. That does not weaken my love for the KJV, because a pastor is obliged to study the text and provide paraphrases. Keeping up with the local surfer dude vocabulary is not required, but I digress.

Oddly, the verb for mark is found in telescope and microscope, not to mention medical devices I hesitate to name. All are instruments for careful observation, study, and diagnoses.

The weight of verse 17 is on carefully examine and on the object of that verb form.

Carefully examine whom? - those creating divisions and death-triggers. Paul wrote that there must be divisions, but false teachers create them for their own benefit, and these divisions are death traps.

Objective Justification is one such division, embraced by the radicals in the LCMS-WELS-ELCA-ELS-CLC (sic) and used as a way to get rid of traditional Lutherans. OJ kills the efficacy of the Word, the Means of Grace, and Justification by Faith. The last term is shortened by the radicals to Justification and named as the Chief Article! They are shameless liars.

Divisions and Death-Triggers Against

The key to careful observation is that these divisions and death-triggers (soul killers) are against the doctrine you learned. 

Lenski:  His injunction is to keep away from believers who are errorists and teach falsely. Not only the exact duplicates of the errorists of Paul's day are to be shunned, as though no new ones could arise, as though new ones do not divide, tear, and set traps, as though all errorists new and old, great and small, are not related, all in the same class; but, according to Paul himself (15:4), "whatever things were written before, for our instruction were they written," his admonition is to be fully applied and not weakened or evaded. Romans Commentary, p. 918.

Conclusions

The Synodical Conference is very much like the Southern Baptists, not exactly what Paul wrote about. The Synodical Conference began in Pietistic Unionism and has followed the Halle University model downhill at an increasing velocity. 

The synodocrats are quick to press the shun button for whatever reason. They are good examples of leaning toward false teachers - for the money and their itching ears.

False teachers should be confronted with their errors, given a chance, and avoided.

 ELCA gay activist - Let's publish a Book of Concord together!

Waldo Werning - let's use him for distributing Church Growth nonsense.

 Wilken, the radio jockey, thinks Justification by Faith is Calvinism! Let's give him tons of money to spread his ignorance. He wants to build a statue of Paul the Plagiarist McCain, too - another giving opportunity.

How Different from the "Conservative" Lutherans Who Crave Thrivent Abortion-Friendly Money

Work with ELCA? No problem. Grab money from abortion-friendly Thrivent? No problem. Stand up for Biblical principles instead of money? Huge problem.

Martin Luther College (WELS) will transform your children!
S/he posted a Satanic symbol on Facebook, too.

Listen to this African Methodist leader about the radical denominational proposal to change its clergy standards, much like ELCA's in 2009. The vote failed, thanks to Third World leaders, but no thanks to American bishops, who backed it big time.

“With all due respect, a fixation on money seems more of an American problem than an African one. We get by on far less than most Americans do; we know how to do it. I’m not so sure you do. So if anyone is so naïve or condescending as to think we would sell our birth right in Jesus Christ for American dollars, then they simply do not know us.

We are seriously joyful in following Jesus Christ and God’s holy word to us in the Bible. And in truth, we think many people in the U.S. and in parts of Europe could learn a great deal from us. The UM churches, pastors and lay people who partner with us acknowledge as much.

Please understand me when I say the vast majority of African United Methodists will never, ever trade Jesus and the truth of the Bible for money” (emphasis added).

What is more charming in WELS than children putting female makeup on the pastor and the all male church council?

 Church and Change Your Gender - see below.

Start the third sex early, at Michigan Lutheran Seminary.

 WELS funded this Church and Change boondoggle and appointed administrators based on their loyalty to this tripe. But DP Kudu Don Patterson was never a member - I just want to say that for the record, because they are all liars.

From Someone, Somwhere

 Sassy approves this post.

I was wondering how long it would be before you posted on the WELS decrease in giving. I read it yesterday on the WELS site, and it read like a "blame the member for our problems." This decrease comes at a time when many of our Lutheran Schools in WI, even Luther Prep, accept vouchers from the state ( although, I don't know if Luther Prep has any voucher students yet, although they are in the program). And, this decrease is at a time when MLC is asking for a special gift for their 25th anniversary - $70,000 for a statue, and $30,000 for student financial aid. (A little turned around, don't you think?) Keep up the good work. I've been recovering from a few serious illnesses the last few years, but your sermons have helped me through, and the dog articles, and creation gardening accounts, have been extremely enjoyable. Always a fan!

Philippines - Luther Books in the Lutheran Mission - Glen Kotten, JD, and Pastor Jordan Palangyos

Glen Kotten is leading a class for Jordan Palangyos -  the Augsburg Confession.

 These books may look familiar. They were delivered by Glen Kotten.

 Jordan Palangyos - Glen Kotten.